InkTober Check-in: Making Friends with Brush Markers

10/12/26 Wedgwood neighborhood. I stood near the middle of this quiet street
to sketch. Neighbors stood on their respective porches to have this conversation.

InkTober is half over, and I’m pleased and surprised to say that I’m enjoying using Staedtler Pigment Arts Brush Pens! As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve long been attracted to brush markers for their expediency and range of line widths, but I’ve never found a way to use them that suited my style or esthetic. I just don’t care for the marker-y look, which I obviously can’t avoid completely: Markers be markers. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from participating in InkTober each year, it’s that using a specific tool or medium daily for an extended time teaches me how I relate to it better than when I use it only sporadically – even if I think I don’t like it (that was my big takeaway years ago when I devoted the month to ballpoint pens). Because what makes me want to use an unfamiliar medium is finding an approach that feels like my own, and that takes committed time to practice.

I was thinking of doing a review of these Staedtler markers, which were new to me before InkTober, but I would need to use them longer to make a fair assessment. For example, after two weeks (and a couple of months for the black and gray ones), the tips are holding out OK under my heavy hand, but I don’t know how much longer that will be true. I also don’t know how long the ink will last.  

The Staedtler "Nature Colours" set

An interesting comparison would be with what I think are their primary competitor, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens. Both containing waterproof, transparent pigment inks, they seem close in features, yet the Staedtler pens are significantly less expensive. In addition, the Staedtler pens are not available open stock, which makes them less convenient. Still, I’m enjoying the challenge of using the predetermined palette in the “Nature Colours” set that I’ve been using. I think it’s good for me (in the same way that eating kale is good for me) to use colors that wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice.

Esthetically, I also like the way all my InkTober sketches so far have a cohesive look from the common limited palette.

All of that said, it’s change-up time! All along, I’ve been curious about how these Staedtler markers compare with Faber-Castell’s Pitt pens. The latter are much more familiar to me; I’ve been using them sporadically for years, but I’ve never given them any devoted time. Although Pitt marker maestro Don Colley has long been my marker guru, even his inspiring demos and workshops couldn’t get me past whatever resistance I have (or had) with markers. While he does magic with his, I just haven’t found a way to make them my own.

So far, the tips of my most-used markers are holding up under
my heavy hand...but for how much longer?

In the remaining weeks of InkTober, I’m going to do exactly what I’ve been doing with Staedtler markers: I’ve preselected a limited palette (though this time of my own choosing, since I have a decently wide selection of Pitts) that I’ll stick with. Now that the Staedtlers have warmed me to markers, the Pitts should be an easy transition. And with both brands fresh in my memory, by the end of the month, I might be better informed for writing a comparison review. 

Before then, though, I still have a few more Staedtler sketches to show.

Peepin’ My Eyes Out!

 

10/7/26 Maple Leaf neighborhood

It’s peak leaf-peeping season, and I’m sketching as fast as I can! Thankfully, the weather has been mostly dry and even sunny, at least in the afternoons, so I’ve had more opportunities than in some years.

Two sketches here were for InkTober, and the third (at right) was from a short walk when I didn’t have markers with me. That one, made with watercolor pencils, is about half the size of the others, but I think it took a little longer. Probably one of the highest virtues of brush markers is their speed and efficiency – and I’m seriously appreciating that aspect!

It’s interesting to look at these sketches together in the same post. Comparing colored pencils with markers is definitely not apples and apples. And there was a time when I would have said they can’t be compared at all – the effect of colored pencils has so much more subtlety, modulation, gradation and blended hues than that of markers – and I prefer all that colored pencils offer. Yet now that I’m two weeks into InkTober using brush markers exclusively, I am learning to appreciate them much more than I expected. Who knew!

10/10/26 Green Lake Park (Quotations from a boys' soccer match ongoing on the field close by.) This may be my favorite InkTober sketch yet -- even the goofy, cartoony clouds! What markers lack in subtle modulation, they make up for in boldness and directness. They can be fresh in a way that I had not appreciated before.

10/10/26 Maple Leaf neighborhood

For your viewing pleasure, I’m including photos from recent walks.

Windy and Powerless at Centennial Park

 

10/11/26 Amgen Helix Bridge

About a month ago, I went on a USk scouting mission to Centennial Park, Seattle’s newish addition to the waterfront amenities. (More of my long-paid tax dollars at work at last!) On that cloudy morning, it was chilly and breezy, but it helped to have hot coffee and warm quiche at Café Hagen (despite their seating being outdoor only). I was looking forward to sketching at the park again with USk Seattle.

Terminal 86 grain terminal from Centennial Park

Although last Sunday was sunny, it was even windier, and the café warm-up we were all looking forward to didn’t materialize: The café was closed due to a power outage! (That lack of power made it interesting to use the public restrooms in the total darkness; I think it was the first time I used my phone’s flashlight in a restroom.)

Urban sketchers, however, are nothing if not hardcore and determined. Many hardy folks sat without shelter in the steely wind along the newly landscaped beach path. I escaped to the nearby Amgen Helix Bridge (which I had sketched for the first time back in 2018), hoping to find a bit more shelter from the wind there (top of post). No such luck, but I guess I was as determined (and chilly) as the others.

I walked across the 400-foot-long bridge, which enables park visitors to cross railroad tracks and industrial buildings over to Elliott Avenue West. After grabbing a bite to eat and warming up, I went back to the waterfront, wondering if the wind had let up. If anything, it was stronger still! The formidable grain terminal was hard to ignore, so I gave it a shot, with the wind occasionally knocking my sketchbook back at me.

We’re a hardy bunch!

A park pooch

I sketched a few other sketchers while we all waited at the bus stop.

Hardy!

Café Blameless is Full of Potential

10/9/26 Cafe Blameless occupies the former nave of a 100-year-old church in the Bryant neighborhood.

 After hearing about a new café that had just opened inside a centenarian Bryant neighborhood church, I had to check it out for myself. Café Blameless is a huge, beautifully restored space with soft lighting and low-volume music – what a treat the latter is! In addition, when I pulled back my chair, I noticed that pads on the feet kept it from making that terrible scrapey sound that I hear in so many cafes (to me, that’s just as bad as nails on a blackboard).

In addition to the café, which is housed in the former nave, the church hosts a variety of non-religious events such as dance lessons and “mystery theater.” When I showed my sketch to Jeff, one of the café’s co-owners, he gave me a tour of the rest of the public spaces, which were equally beautifully appointed and restored.

I have only two complaints about this lovely venue: The warm, dim lighting is a bit too dark for sketching. Next time, I’m bringing my book light. The second is their pastries (but I’m hoping that situation is temporary): I had high hopes because I’d heard they were made by Cloudy Café, where I’ve already enjoyed delicious croissants. At 7:30 a.m. when I arrived, though, they offered only a savory spinach and feta tart, a ham and cheese croissant, and “salt bread.” What? Nothing sweet at all? I was told that they “sold out of sweet ones yesterday,” which means the pastries weren’t fresh. Indeed, my “salt bread” was cold; obviously, it had been in the fridge overnight.

I’m giving Café Blameless the benefit of the doubt that they are not yet up to speed. In fact, their current “soft opening” hours are shorter than in the near future. Fingers crossed that the pastry situation will be fixed by then.

Meanwhile, I’m thinking two things: One is that I may have finally found a café space large enough to accommodate a winter USk outing. I mentioned the possibility to Jeff, and he is very welcoming.

Much more importantly (to me): It’s warm, the volume is low, the seating is comfortable and plentiful, and it’s less than 10 minutes away by car. Could it be that I’ve finally found my long-sought third place?

The former church now hosts multiple activities and events in addition to the cafe.

Soothingly but dimly lighted.

Large tables for groups. On the morning I was there, a running club arrived just as I did, filling at least two of these large, round tables. Perfect for urban sketchers, too!

Pinehurst Station Underwhelms

 

10/8/26 Pinehurst Station. Despite the blah scene, all the nearly
monochrome grayness were an interesting tonal challenge with my
limited palette of markers.

After much delay (and related local political strife), a new light rail station opened recently. Only a couple of miles north of Northgate station, it seemed unnecessary – unless it had plenty of parking to ease the congestion at the Northgate lots (which I only rarely encounter because I usually walk to the station, but when I do need to drive, I know parking can be a problem). In addition, I thought it might be worth scouting the new Pinehurst station for USk potential. I wasn’t optimistic, but in the winter, we get desperate for sheltered locations, and some stations can have decent views from the platform level.

My assessment: extremely meh. Although Pinehurst has some colorful murals, I didn’t see much of interest. Numerous large rocks were placed throughout the station – as seating? Hmmm. In addition, it’s very noisy from Interstate 5 traffic just below the station.

Well, you know me: Since I went there with an InkTober sketch in mind, I embraced the meh.

What's up with all the rocks?

At least there are colorful murals.

Sally Before the Weigh-in

10/3/26 Sally, a 494.5-pound pumpkin, was forklifted onto the pickup for her ride to Carpinito Brothers Farm in Kent.

Ever since 2022 when a pumpkin in Maple Leaf attracted media attention, I’ve been walking a few blocks east this time of year to check out what’s growing. Brooke, who has been growing humongous pumpkins competitively for several years now, also sells pumpkin seeds through Land o’ Giants.

I knew that “Sally,” one of her pumpkins, was being forklifted onto a pickup truck last weekend, but I arrived too late to see the lift (I heard it was a lengthy, harrowing ordeal, especially when the pumpkin was accidentally dropped; fortunately, Sally was unharmed). I did get there just in time, however, to see Sally resting in the back of a pickup while Brooke wiped her off. Shortly after, the pumpkin was tarped for the night. The next day she would be taken to Carpinito Brothers Farms (where USk Tacoma and USk Seattle met recently to sketch the winners) for the competition.

Sally's boyfriend Jack awaits his own weigh-in. 

Weighing in at 494.5 pounds, she apparently didn’t place in the competition. That’s OK, Sally – you still gave it your best! Sally’s boyfriend Jack Skellington, who was resting under a tent when I came by, would go to a different competition later.

I’ll go back in a couple of weeks to see how Sally gets carved. Brooke told me it takes the whole weekend to do the job!

InkTober, Week 1: Brush Markers

 

10/2/26 Maple Leaf neighborhood. When I was cleaning out the Miata
for her detailing a few weeks ago, I found a tin of Hahnemuhle watercolor postcards 
that I had left under the seat "just in case" I was spontaneously inspired to make
someone a card (you can imagine how many times that happened -- zero). I thought
I'd give the toothy paper a try with these markers, and I'm pleased that it was fine. It 
means I can use my favorite Hahnemuhle sketchbook with markers, too. All other sketches
shown here are in a Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook.

I’ve been so busy reporting on my trip to the Bay Area that I’m only now getting around to InkTober! When I made a dry run last month, I was trepidatious about using waterproof Staedtler Pigment Arts brush pens exclusively, mainly because I have never liked the marker-ish marks that markers make (say that five times fast). That’s also true of Faber-Castell Pitt Artist brush pens, which I’ve used sporadically for years.

Markers are difficult to modulate: They are either off or on, with none of the subtle gradations that I love so much about colored pencils – and that are easy to get with colored pencils. They also can’t be blended like pencils or water-soluble materials; they must be layered like watercolors are glazed. And yet the boldness and directness of brush markers are appealing and seductive – that’s why I keep going back to them sporadically.

My hope is that using these markers for 31 consecutive days will either teach me to find a way to use them so that the results are satisfying or convince me to quit using them, content that they just aren’t for me.

10/3/26 Maple Leaf neighborhood

As I mentioned in the dry-run post, using a limited palette that has been curated for me by a set is unusual – I’m so used to having a full range of colors to pick from. Sometimes I feel frustrated (I want a darker green, for example, and the set could use another midtone), but the palette has been mostly working out OK so far.

One thing I’m especially happy about this InkTober is that my chosen ink is colored! Although at least one year I used a variety of colors of fountain pen inks, I typically choose black ink for InkTober. That means I’m often frustrated that my black line drawings prevail during the most colorful season of the year! (Yes, of course, I could color the black line drawings, and sometimes have, but then what would I be learning? It seems pointless to participate in an art challenge if I don’t push myself to try something new.)

My biggest learning so far is that size matters, at least where scale of the page is concerned (I mentioned this a couple of days ago). Now that I’m using an A5 sketchbook instead of trying to use up a pocket-size sketchbook, the bold brush markers feel comfortable.

One thing I have always liked about markers is how easy it is to get high value contrasts immediately. That’s always been one of the most seductive aspects of markers (as well as a drawback, if subtlety is desired).

10/5/26 Crown Hill neighborhood. I'm pleased by how easy and efficient it was to get those bold darks in. It takes a lot more work to get high value contrasts with colored pencils. The odd mix of colors on the foreground car is regrettable. That green was the best midtone, but I didn't like the color for this car, so I colored over it with indigo.

I’m still working on not fighting the marker-ish look and instead embracing the mark-making that markers are good at.

(Days 1 and 4 were included in previous posts; today’s post shows the rest of the first week.)

10/6/26 Roosevelt neighborhood

10/7/26 Green Lake